Sequentially numbered puzzle pieces outlined and numbered on the Assembly Mat

ABSTRACT

Jigsaw puzzles are suddenly easier and more fun to put together requiring less space and time and every puzzle is a puzzle for everyone with Sequential Numbering of each puzzle piece and the Assembly Mat. For years the goal of puzzle designers has been to make puzzles more challenging. As puzzles became more difficult, they were less suitable for all ages. The solution was to design puzzles for a dozen or more different age and ability groups. But this has made puzzles less suitable as a social or interacting event. Sequential Numbering on the back of each puzzle piece and using a full size Assembly Mat showing the outline and number of each puzzle piece has solved these problems. It&#39;s a perfect way for a teen puzzle chat, building confidence in a child, spending time with a friend, with the whole family, with a senior or anyone with health issues.

Puzzle pieces Sequentially Numbered plus an Assembly Mat showing the pieces outlined and numbered providing puzzle perfection in allowing the same puzzle to be completed by any age person with any skill level.

See FIG. #1 showing the sequentially printed numbers on the back of the puzzle pieces.

See FIG. #2 showing the Assembly Mat with the pieces outlined and each one having one of the sequentially printed numbers.

DESCRIPTION

The use of Sequentially Numbered puzzle pieces and a full size Assembly Mat which shows the outline of the pieces and their corresponding numbers allowing millions of people a way to enjoy puzzles they would not have before.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Puzzles have long been done one way. Using a large area of a table, the puzzle pieces are emptied from the box. The pieces are all turned over with the picture side facing up while sorting out the edge pieces into one area begins. The required space to do the puzzle has now doubled in size. The outer edges of the puzzle are then put together taking the extra time to search for any missing edge pieces which may have been missed in the initial sorting. This is followed by hours over one or more days of finding and putting the puzzle pieces together. During this time frustration in the process of finding certain pieces is evident and the space being used for putting the puzzle together is unusable for anything else.

The history of jig saw puzzles shows that the goal of designers and manufacturers over many years has been to make puzzles more challenging. The number of pieces grew into the thousands and two sided puzzles were placed on the market. Designers focused on how to make puzzles more difficult to put together by putting false corners in the middle of the puzzle or cutting pieces exactly on lines between two colors. One line of puzzles has the picture on the box different than the picture of the puzzle to be assembled.

What has become clear is that the more challenging the puzzles became the harder it was for a puzzle to be suited for all ages. To solve the problem puzzles began being designed for just specific groups. Puzzles are now offered for sale appealing to these ages and groups of people and more.

Age and Ability Groups

1 to 3 3 to 4 5 to 6 7 to 8 9 to 12

Teenagers Adults Seniors

The developmentally challenged Individuals struggling with Alzheimer's or Dementia

All of these specific options, however, are creating situations where social interaction between people of all ages is decreasing. It doesn't allow a family to sit down and do a puzzle together. It certainly makes the purchase of a puzzle as a family gift for all ages almost impossible.

The puzzle suppliers are committed to this almost non-social path and creating fewer and fewer opportunities for people to interact while doing puzzles. Millions of new puzzles every year are being made for even more limited age groups and people with physical and mental challenges. The one direction they would not seek out or want to imagine would be how to make any puzzle suitable for every person.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors here have developed an inventive step to make each puzzle suitable for any person in any age group with or without special individual challenges. The inventors realized the limitations on required space, time available for doing the puzzle and the difficulty in putting a puzzle together as a family event almost impossible.

This invention addresses the core complaints people have about jigsaw puzzles and solves them. It provides a way to have fun of actually putting a picture together and eliminates the need for sorting of any kind. It accommodates all ages, all skill levels and allows the greatest flexibility on use of available space and time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The jigsaw puzzle comes in a standard thin cardboard box showing the picture of the puzzle on the top of the box. When the lid of the box is removed the pieces are either bagged or loose inside the box.

Some of the pieces will have the picture side up and some will show the back side of the puzzle pieces. Each piece of the puzzle will have been printed with a sequential number on the back side. The puzzle pieces are of standard high quality cardboard, wood or other suitable material.

Also included in the box is an Assemble Mat. This Assembly Mat will have been folded twice or rolled. The Assemble Mat is to be removed from the box, opened up so that the printed side faces up and placed on a flat surface. The Assembly Mat is large enough to show the outline of the entire puzzle edges plus ¼ inch of white space around the four edges. An example would be an 18 inch by 24 inch puzzle would have an Assembly Mat of 18½ inches by 24½ inches. The shaped outline of each piece of the puzzle is shown with the printed number near the center of each piece. The Assembly Mat is of super heavy weight paper or other suitable material.

FIG. #1 Shows the back side of the puzzle pieces with the printed numbers on each piece.

FIG. #2 Shows the Assembly Mat with the outlined pieces and the Sequential Numbers for each one.

FIG. #3 Shows the first two pieces taken properly placed on the Assembly Mat and where the third piece with the number 10 showing on the back side of the piece will go.

The puzzle box with all the pieces still in the box can be placed right next to the Assembly Mat. The players alternate turns. The first player simple picks one piece of the puzzle and checks to see what number is printed on the back side of that piece. The piece is placed on the Assembly Mat to match up with the shape and the same number of the piece on the Assembly Mat. The next player now does the same. The process continues until the puzzle has been completed. There is no need for sorting of any kind.

Here are directions to show how sequential numbering of puzzle pieces with an Assembly Mat make every puzzle a puzzle for everyone:

Sitting down with a friend.

Position the Assembly Mat in the center of the small table at home, at the coffee shop, in a breakroom at work, at an outside table or at a neighbor's kitchen table. Leave all the pieces in the box or in one pile next to the Assembly Mat. No sorting is necessary and edge pieces are not all done first. Have one person start by simply selecting one piece from the box or table and look at the number on the back of the puzzle piece. The piece should be placed on the Assembly Mat by matching up the number and shape with the same numbered piece shown on the Assembly Mat. The next person does the same. This continues until the puzzle is completed while you share special moments of your lives with each other.

Sharing the puzzle with a child, with a patient with dementia, a person struggling with Alzheimer's or with a person with special needs:

Have one person pick out a special piece and show the back of the piece to see the number. Then guide them as necessary to let them find the place on the Assembly Mat to place the piece. It is a great opportunity to talk with them, guide them as little as necessary and build confidence within them on each person's turn. Everyone wins!

Family Time:

The whole family can work the puzzle together. The youngest can pick out the pieces. One person can read the numbers and everyone can take turns placing the pieces on the Assembly Mat.

Children:

It is a joy to witness the self confidence you can see building in a child as they use their new ability to count and participate with an adult doing a puzzle.

Teens:

It's emotionally healthy to put the phone down and have a one on one talk with a friend. Simply leave all the puzzle pieces in the box and take turns picking a piece out and placing it on the Assembly Mat. Enjoy the stress free time with no sorting. Just enjoy the talk.

Adults:

The sequentially numbered pieces and Assembly Mat make the puzzle so flexible to work as a parent bonding and sharing with a child. It provides a way to show love and compassion to a senior, parent or friend with dementia.

Puzzle More and Stress Less at Work:

We think of the home as the place puzzles are usually done. We don't picture going to the office to work with a puzzle under your arm. But now we should.

Wherever you are at work have the puzzle box open and the Assembly Mat set up to start your day. As the day goes on stop by for feel good moments at the table and put in a few pieces each time while talking on the phone, taking a break or contemplating a problem you are trying to solve. It gives your mind a needed break while increasing concentration and focus. You will be able to feel the reduction of stress by simply picking up a couple of pieces of the puzzle and placing them on the Assembly Mat.

FIG. #4: Shows two portions of a layout for a 100 piece puzzle with irregular shaped pieces on the Assembly Mat to illustrate this invention works for any size puzzle with any shaped pieces. FIG. #5 Shows two portions of a layout for a 300 piece puzzle on the Assembly Mat to illustrate this invention works for any size puzzle with any shaped pieces.

DRAWINGS

FIG. #1

A drawing which shows the back side of the puzzle pieces for a 48 piece puzzle having been printed with the sequential numbers. When the puzzle is turned over the numbering will begin in the upper left hand corner.

FIG. #2

A drawing showing the Assembly Mat for the 48 piece puzzle with each puzzle piece outlined with the piece number printed in the center of the piece. Sequential numbering begins in the top left hand corner of the puzzle.

FIG. #3

Shows the first player had picked a puzzle piece with the number 4 printed on the back side of the piece. The piece was properly placed over the outlined puzzle piece with the number 4 showing. The second person selected the puzzle piece with the number 35 on the back side. It was correctly placed on the Assembly Mat. The third piece selected is shown with the number 10 on the back side. It will be placed as shown on the Assembly Mat.

FIG. #4

Shows the actual size of the top left corner and bottom right corner of a 100 piece puzzle with irregular pieces pictured on a Assemble Mat. This was to illustrate that the invention works for any size puzzle with any shaped pieces.

FIG. #5

Shows the actual size of the top left corner and the bottom right corner pieces on an Assembly Mat for a 300 piece puzzle. This was also to illustrate that the invention works for any size puzzle with any shaped pieces. 

1. The Sequentially Numbering of jig saw puzzle pieces with said numbers being printed on the back side of each puzzle piece.
 2. Including with the puzzle a full size Assembly Mat showing the outline of each puzzle piece with its corresponding sequential number printed near the center of the outlined piece. 